2. Using Assistive Technology to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities By: Alexis Schoen Educ. 509: Computers in Elementary Education Lexiann7@aol.com Holy Family University Summer II 2003 June 28 th, 2003

3. Contents Issues with Learning Disabilities Government Implications Overview Language Arts and Assistive Technology AlphaSmart Story on CD-ROMS Math and Assistive Technology Considerations Closing

4. Issues with Learning Disabilities academic weaknesses in reading, the writing process, and mathematics difficulty with communication procedures, such as, handwriting, spelling, organizational skills, and quality of writing need clear, concise, and varied instruction

5. Government Implications Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA): Federal Register Chapter 34 300-346 (a) (2) (v) states that, "The IEP Team also shall… Consider whether the child requires assistive technology devices and services." P.L. 101-476, Section 1401 (a) (25), defines assistive technology devices as "any piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of children with disabilities."

6. Overview provide student’s with diverse learning styles a chance to learn to their fullest potential Increase in inclusion classrooms, which equals various abilities accommodations to assist students to succeed in subject areas.

7. Overview continued… Rena (1998), offers two purposes to the use of assistive technology. “First, it can augment an individual’s strengths so that his or her abilities counterbalance the effects of any disabilities. Second, technology can provide an alternate mode of performing a task so that disabilities are compensated for or bypassed entirely.”

8. Language Arts Assistive Technology spell checkers speech synthesis ( PowerSecretary ) word banks (Kid Works 2, My Words ) grammar checkers ( Write This Way) prompting ( Writer’s Helper ) webbing ( Inspiration, Kidspiration)

9. AlphaSmart: http://www.alphasmart.com/ http://www.alphasmart.com/ simple, portable (Weighing less than 2 lbs ), low cost (@ $200) computer companion with extraordinary battery life (700 hours on 3 AA alkaline batteries). allows you to enter and edit text, then send it to any computer for formatting or directly to a printer designed so that students don't get caught up in the complexities of a computer Click for Demonstration

10. Story on CD-ROM Living Books from Broderbund animated child directs the action with a mouse click younger children can choose the Read-to-Me mode Discis Books from Discis Knowledge Research Inc. lesson guide: introduce a variety of vocabulary, word analysis, and comprehension skills

11. Math Assistive Technology focus should be placed on programs, which provide auditory cues or sound, in addition to visual instructions textbooks are available on CD-ROMs textbook publishers sometimes offer video taped lessons

12. Considerations interactive programs available can be more distracting than engaging, so monitor graphics and complexity typing instructions needed, which takes time Downfalls to spell and grammar checkers (Homonyms) symbols and graphs are not recognized by optical character recognition

13. Closing For teachers of students with learning disabilities assistive technology can be a wonderful addition to everyday lessons. Unfortunately, "Among the more than 10,000 instructional software programs now on the market, it is safe to say that not more than a handful are programs especially designed to meet the needs of individuals with learning disabilities.(Rena)"